Stapling mechanism for pin-ticketing machines.



B. W. SCOTT. STAPLING MECHANISM FOR PIN TIGKETING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 19, 1906. 1,019,924.

Patented Mar. 12, 1912.

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' B. W. SCOTT.- STAPLING MECHANISM FOR PIN TIGKETING MACHINES.

Patented Mar. 12, 1912 APPLICATION FILED FEB. 1 9, 1906.

6 SHEETS-BHEET 2- B. W. SCOTT. STAPLING MECHANISM FOR PIN TIGKBTING MACHINES.

1,019, APPLIOATION FILED FEB. 19, 1906. Patented Mar. 12

6 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

ill/1 B. W. SCOTT. STAPLING MECHANISM FOR PIN TIOKETING MACHINES. APPLIUATION FILED I'EB.19, 1906.

1 ,01 9, 924. P tented" Mar. 12,1912.

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Patented Mar. 12, 1912.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

B. W. SCOTT. STAPLING MECHANISM FOR PIN TIGKETING MA APPLICATION FILED PEB.19, 1906. 1 ,01 9, 924.

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Mfg WWW UNITED STATES T ATENT OFFICE.

BURTON W. SCOTT, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOIR, BY MESNE A SSIGNMENTS, 'IO DETROIT TYPOMARKER COMPANY, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN.

STAPLING MECHANISM FOR PIN-TICKETING MACHINES.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BURTON WV. Soon, a citizen of the United States, residing at Detroit, in the State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in stapling Mechanism for'Pin-Ticketing Machines, of which the following is a description,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

The present invention relates primarily to that class of machines intended for use in automatically attaching to samples of goods or articles of wearing apparel, tags or tickets with printed matter thereon, usually comprising the name of the concern handling the goods,the size, and the price or such other data as may be useful in the retailing of the merchandise. Such machines are designed to supplant the fastening of tags or tickets to goods by hand and the penciling of memoranda on the tickets. This manual process is not only slow and expensive but the pencil marks put upon the tickets if not illegible from the start become so in a short time with the handling of the goods.

The automatic machine performs all of the functions before performed by hand and requires merely the application of power and the proper guiding of the work. The tags or tickets are printed on a continuous strip of paper or card-board fed intermittently and wire for staples is correspondingly fed and a length thereof cut off in each operation of the machine and formed into a staple. The machine cuts from the continuous strip of paper or card-board a printed tag or ticket at each operation and the staple formed in each operation of the machine is driven through the tag or ticket. If such tag or ticket is to be fastened to the goods the machine is adjusted to clench the ends or legs of the staple after they have passed through the tag and the goods. If on the other hand it is desired to simply turn out stapled tags or tickets then the machine is adjusted so that the ends of the staple will not be turned back. Of course when attaching the staples to the goods by the use of the machine it is not essential that the staple pass through the tag. It might pass on Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 19, 1906.

Patented Mar. 12, 1912.

Serial No. 301,814.

either side of the same in such close engagement with the edges thereof as to insure its being held securely in place.

Machines of the character indicated have been used to some extent in commercial establishments and their labor-saving capabilities demonstrated but it is believed there is considerable room for improvement in the character of the work done by such machines as well as in the character of construction and assemblage of parts.

The present invention aims to work improvements in such respects so that an easier running machine may be had and one which will do the work of printing, stapleforming and stapledriving with greater smoothness and despatch than machines heretofore produced. The parts making up the machine are simplified and adapted to a more compact and practical assemblage and the mechanical movements employed are such as to economize power and produce a perfect cooperation in the running of the machine.

The invention also aims to greatly simplify the arrangement whereby the machine may be converted from one which fastens the tags or tickets to the goods by a clenching process to one which simply turns out tags or tickets with unclenched staples. A single adjustment quickly made sufiices in the present invention to effect this conver sion. Finally the machine is considerably quickened in operation so that its output is increased.

With the above mentioned and other incidental objects in View the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts the essential elements whereof are recited in the appended claims and a preferred form of embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawings and specifically described in the following specification of which said drawings form a part.

Referring first to the drawings, Figure 1 thereof represents the complete machine in side elevation; Fig. 2 a similar view on a larger scale of the head of the machine with one side plate removed and a cap piece in section; Fig.3 represents a longitudinal section of the top part of the machine on the same scale as Fig. 2; Fig/trepresents the sametop part of the machine in front elevation with the casing in section; Fig.5represents a face View and an edge view of a cam piece which operates the mandrel; Fig. 6 represents a horizontal section taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 2 and looking down, a fragment of the cap piece being left with some parts in elevation thereabove; Fig. 7 represents a cross-section taken on the line 7-7 of Fig. 2; Fig. 8 represents a section taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 2; Figs. 9, 10 and 11 are views illustrating the steps in the process of forming and clenching a staple when fastoning together the ticket and the goods; Fig. 12 is a similar View illustrating the stapling of a tag or ticket without clenching; and Fig. 13 represents a tag or ticket printed and attached to a piece of goods by the machine.

The construction of the machine illustrated in the above described drawings is as follows: The reference numeral 2 designates a supporting column at the top of which is a casing 3 of substantially cylindrical form preferably having removable side plates. This cylindrical head or casing is squared ofl at the top to receive a work plate 4: which will come flush with the upper surface of the work table when the machine'is in place. Above the said work plate is a cap piece 5 which covers all except a limited portion of the work plate at the front. The staple cutting, forming and driving mechanism is located below' this work plate within the cylindrical head 3 and the formed staple is projected up through a suitable opening in said work plate in front of the cap piece 5. The type for printing the tag or ticket is also carried within the cylindrical casing and works up through another opening in the work plate 4 beneath the cap-piece 5.

The printed ticket strip is fed out from under the cap piece 5 in a channel of the work plate 4 and over the opening in the front part of the latter up through which the staple is driven. The only part of the stapling mechanism which is above the worlcplate is a clencher head ,6 which overhangs that part of the'work-plate through which the staple is projected.

Having thus indicated generally the organization of the machine a detailed description of the mechanism will ensue. A shaft 7 (Fig. 7 is mounted to turn in bearings in the side plates of the cylindrical casing 3, said shaft extending axially of said casing and having loosely mounted upon it a sprocket wheel 8 with the teeth of which engagesa sprocket chain 9 (Fig. 1). This sprocket chain is coupled at one end to a treadle 10 in the form of a lever working through slots in the base of the column,2 and pivoted at one end between lugs on the latter. The other end of the sprocket chain is connected with a coiled spring 11 fastened to a lug on the inside of the column. This arrangement will be seen to provide for turning of the sprocket wheel in one direction by foot pressure on the treadle 10 and in the'opposite direction by the coiled spring 11 which is of the retractile order. The sprocket wheel has compounded with it an arm 12 (Figs. 1 and 7) which extends be tween stops 13 on the casing to limit the oscillatory movement of the wheel. On the side opposite that where said arm 12 is located the sprocket wheel is formed with a laterally projecting annular flange 14 which at diametrically opposite points (Fig. 3) is recessed to form right-angled notches 15. Alongside of the sprocket wheel on the same side as said flange there is mounted upon the shaft 7 and aflixed thereto a disk 16 (Fig. 7 which carries a pivoted dog or pawl 17 pressed by a spring 18 into engagement with the inner wall of the flange 14. This construction will be seen to provide for actuation of the disk 16 whenever the con fronting side of one of the notches 15 drives against the end of the dog or pawl 17 This will take place when the sprocket wheel is being turned by foot pressure on the treadle in. the direction of the arrow (Fig. 3) but it will be observed that the disk 16 .can at any time advance in the same direction independently of the sprocket wheel. The presence of two notches 15 diametrically opposite each other of course indicates that the movements of the disk 16 under actuation of the sprocket wheel are divided, first one notch engaging with the dog in one operation of the machine and then the other notch engaging with the dog in the next operation of the machine. The reasons for this will become apparent as the description proceeds. The disk 16 carries on the side opposite the dog '17 a pair of rollers 19 located at diametrically opposite points and freely rotatable upon studs fastened in the disk. These rollers lie between the confronting horizontal edges of two vertical slides 20 and 21 (Fig. 3) and it will be seen that when the axes of the two rollers are in a horizontal plane the said confronting edges of the two slides approach as near as the construction under any adjustment will permit and that by turning the disk in the have passed a point where their axes are in vertical plane, power applied to turn the disk in the direction of the arrow becomes m'l so far as a separation of the confronting edges of the slides is concerned and these edges may again approach. A retractile spiral spring 22 connects the two slides 20 and 21 tending always to draw them together and the slides normally bear against opposite portions of the rollers 19, and in the operation of the machine the turning of the sprocket wheel through the application of foot pressure on the treadle causes one of the notches 15 to engage with the end of the dog or pawl 17 and the disk 16 to be carried through a quarter turn or a fraction beyond by the thrust of one side of one of the notches against the end of the dog. As soon as the axes of the rollers 19 pass the vertical plane the spring 22 draws the slides to gether revolving the disk 16 and bringing the rollers again to their horizontal position. It will thus be seen that after the slides have been'spread apart they can come together again while the sprocket-wheel is still in a forward position. This is availed of to insure an instantaneous separation of the ticket and wire cutting knives and also of the staple-forming and clenching devices so that the strip and wire feed for the next operation will not be obstructed by any of these parts. Of course it is essential that the disk 16 turn only in one direction, and in order to prevent its turning backward its periphery is formed with ratchet teeth 16 and a spring pawl 16 is suitably mounted to v engage the same as shown in Fig. 3.

As the spreading apart of the confronting edges of the slides 20 and 21 is the result of an application of power which must also perform the work of cutting, printing and stapling it is necessary that there be a trans posit-ion of confronting parts of the two slides so that the spreading apart of the aforesaid confronting edges will be accompanied by a coming together of other parts of the slides. The slide 20 works up and down between guide-ribs 23 on the casing and is confined by screws entered through slots in said slide and the slide 21 is secured to a guide-rod 24C which extends up through part of the slide 20 and thence up through the top of the machine, the cap-piece 5 being bushed for the purpose. The clencher head 6 is secured to this rod 24, which rod virtually forms part of the slide 21. It will thus be seen that the clencher head and the slide 20 will approach as the lower part of the slide 21 and the slide 20 separate. The slide 20 carries on its upper side a knife block 25 with inclined knife blade 26 to work through an opening 27 in the work plate A and cooperate with a shearing efiect with a fixed knife 28 secured in a recess in the underside of the cap-piece 5. These knives sever the ticket strip. The knife block 25 also has an oblique cutting edge 30 at the front right-hand corner (Fig. 6) which co operates with the oblique face of a split steel bushing 31 secured in one side of the casing 3 and through which the staple-wire enters. It will thus be seen that'in the ascent of the slide 20 the ticket strip is severed and also the staple-wire, the latter being cut on an angle so as to produce a sharp pointed end on the severed ends of wire.

The knife block 25 is grooved behind the cutting edge 30 as shown at 31 so as to pro vide for sharpening said cutting edge. The

block 25 is also utilized as a staple-former or bender, this block being recessed at the front as shown at 32 and the recess being rectangular in cross-section and continued through the face of the slide 20. The top of those portions of the block 25 utilized as a staple-former or bender is grooved transversely to receive the staple-wire which is fed in through the bushing 31 and across the channel or recess 32. A mandrel in the form of a lever 33 is pivoted upon a fixed support in the casing 3 at a point (33*) intermediate of its ends, said mandrel confronting the channel or recess 32 of the staple-former and formed at its upper end to overhang said recess. This upper end takes the form of a beak as shown at 3 1 and normally arches the line of traverse of the staple-wire as shown in Fig. 3. At a point above the pivot of the mandrel lever 33 the latter is formed with a nose 35 and at a point below the pivot with a similar nose 36. There is fastened upon the front of the slide 20 a cam plate 37 (Figs. 4 and 5) said plate comprising a body portion and a laterally projecting portion 38 with chamfered top and bottom edges. This cam plate is secured so as to have its lateral portion 38 project across the channel or recess 32 in position to cooperate with the noses 35 and 36 of the mandrel lever 33. Normally the upper chamfered edge of the cam plate is below the nose 35 and a portion of the cam plate above the lower chamfered edge engages the lower nose 36 of the mandrel lever. Thus the lower end of the mandrel lever is held outwardly and come quently its upper end or beak is projected over the line of traverse of the staple wire. During the forming of the staple this condition obtains but when the staple has been formed and is to be driven the mandrel lever is rocked by the action of the upper chamfered edge against the nose 35, the lower chamfered edge having meanwhile passed upwardly beyond the nose 36.

The staple driver is in the form of a bar 39 slidably mounted in the recess or channel 32 and grooved at its upper end to engage the central part of the staple. The sides of the channel 32 are similarly grooved as shown at 10 in Fig. 3 so that as the staple is formed its sides are driven into these grooves 10 and thereafter the groove in theupper end of the staple driver engages the middle portion of the staple which will thus be securely held in its proper adjustment while being driven. Of course the staple driver should not act until the staple has been lowers a fixed cam plate 47 is mounted in downward extension of the arm 45, said and is rectangular in cross-section so that holder 53 with capability o turning there-- formed and consequently no movement is allowed, it independently of the staple former until the forming process is concluded. This staple driver is actuated through the medium of a bell crank lever pivoted at 41 to a depending lug of the slide 20, one arm 42 of the said bell crank lever extending forward and being slotted at 43 to embrace a pin or stud 44 on the lower end of the staple driver 39. The other arm 45 of said bell crank lever projects rearwardly into the path of a stud 46 on the sprocket wheel 8. Normally this stud of the sprocket wheel is about diametrically opposite the arm 45 of the bell crank lever. Thus the stud does not reach said lever until the sprocket wheel has been turned through the greater portion of its advance. Meanwhile the slide 20 is rising and the parts are so timed that instantly upon the complete formation ofthe staple the stud 46 and bell crank lever meet and thereupon said lever rocks and the staple driver is thrust upwardly, driving the formed staple through the opening 1n the work plate 4.

Inxorder to secure a positive restoration of the bell crank tonormal when the slide 20 the casing 3 and the bell crank lever is equipped with a roller 48 upon a stud of a roller contacting with the cam edge of the plate 47 as the slide 20 lowers. A vertical edge of this cam plate holds the bell crank lever in its normal adjustment as clearly shown in Fig. 2. The bending or forming of the staple is of course brought about through the rise of the block 25 over which the staple wire lies, while the beak ofthe mandrel extends over the said wire. The mandrel is the same width as the channel 32 by maintaining its position over the cut length of wire it will hold the central part thereof while the wire on either side is bent upwardly over the sides of the mandrel by the rise of the staple former. The operative position of the mandrel is made definite by providing on its side above the pivot a lug 49 which limits the backward movement of the upper arin of the mandrel lever by coming in contact-with the plate 37. The move 'ment of the lever in the opposite direction is limited by a shoulder 50 adjacent to the nose '36 contacting with the plate 37.

The clencher head 6 hereinbefore mentioned as secured to the upper end of the guide rod 24 is in the form ofa cross head also secured to a short guide rod 51 sliding through a boss52 of the cap piece 5. The cross head has a forwardly projecting portion 53 of tubular form constituting a holder for the clencher block or anvil 54. The latter comprises a stem 55 engaging the tubular in, and a knob 56 projecting above the This retaining pin is adapted to engage either one of the grooves or channels 57.

The clencher block or anvil 54 is rectangular in cross-section and of greater length. than width. When the retaining pin 58 is engaged in one of the grooves 57 the anvil is held in a position where its length lies cross Iwise of the machine. When thus adjusted the anvil presents its lower 'face to the staple driver in such manner that the ends of a staple thrust upwardly by said driver will encounter the clenching portions of the anvil. These portions are respectively curvilinear as shown at 60 in Fig. 4 and retreat from the squared central portion 61 of the anvil face, which central portion coincides in length with that of the upper grooved face of the staple driver39.

With the anvil adjusted so as to lie transversely of the machine as shown in Figs. 9 to 11 the ends of the staple will be turned. back so as to clench the tag or ticket to the goods. In these views a designates the staple, b the tag and c the goods. By turning the anvil to a position at right angles to that illustrated in these figures the machine will be converted into one for simply secure ing staples to tags without clenching the same for it will be seen that when so adjusted the anvil no longer presents its curved clenching portions 60 to the ends of the staple but the latter may pass upwardly on either side of the anvil. The width of the latter is substantially the same as the length of the central portion of the staple as illustrated in Fig. 12 so that the ends or legs of the staple will not be aitected when the staple is driven upwardly through the tag. Under this adjustment the anvil simply serves as a means for holding down the tag while the staple is driven through it. It will thus be seen that by a very simple adjustment the machine can be converted from one for clenching tags to goods into one for turning out tags with staples run through them unclenched.

The means for printing upon the ticket strip are of the following description: The

upper side of the slide 20 is constructed to receive type chases, one of which, 62, is permanently mounted upon the slide, this type chase consisting simply in a grid for subdividing the ticket or tag by printing thereon cross-lines within a border line. This grid is shown at 63 in Fig. 6 and may be secured upon the slide 20 in any suitable manner. The subdivision at one end of the grid is preferably made somewhat larger than the others for the purpose of receiving a plate or die (not shown) with the name of the concern using the machine. The other type chase 65 is removably mounted upon the slide 20, being adapted to slide in and out of a channel provided for it in the top of the latter and confined therein by a latch plate 66 pivoted at 67 to the slide 20 and having a handle 68 by which to lift it. The type chase 65 comprises a body portion and a number of partitions 70 channeled to receive type which are ribbed for engagement with the channels. (See Fig. 6.) This type chase is for the purpose of accommodating various arrangements of type for printing the desired data upon the ticket be tween the lines marked thereon by the grid 63, such data for example as the number, the size and the price of the goods. (See Fig. 13.) By arranging for printing on the under-side of the ticket strip the simplest construction in type chases is made possible. it not being necessary to provide any spe cial construction to hold the type from drop ping out of the chase as in the case of in verted type chases. The ticket strip is designated by the letter (Z and occupies a longi tudinal channel 72 in the work-plate 4, the latter being cut out over the type-chases so that the latter may rise through the workplate and make impressions upon the ticket strip.

The cap-piece 5 is provided in its undersurface with an impression block 73 extending over both type-chases and adapted to cooperate with the same in producing the impressions upon the ticket-strip. Inking ribbons 7 1 and 7 5 are employed, these ribbons passing through slots between the workplate 4.- and the sides of the casing 3, one ribbon being allotted to each type-chase and the ribbons being preferably of different colors. The ribbons are carried upon reels 7 6 journaled in brackets 77 projecting from opposite sides of the cap-piece 5. The two reels at one side of the cap-piece are made as a unitary structure and so of the two drums at the opposite side of said cap-piece, so that a single actuating device will be sufficient to feed both ribbons. This actuating device comprises ratchet teeth 7 8 secured in one side-piece of one of the compound drums and an arm 7 9 pivoted concentrically with the drum and carrying a pawl 80 springpressed into engagement with the ratchet teeth. The arm 7 9 is formed at its outer end with a cam slot 81 which embraces a pin 82 projecting from the clencher cross-head 6. In the vertical reciprocations of the latter a camming action is effected between this pin 82 and the slot 81 with the result that the arm 79 is vibrated with each reciprocation of the cross-head and thereby the drum is turned a step with each operation of the machine so that both inking ribbons are moved slightly. A retaining pawl 84 prevents backward movement of the take-up drum but may be displaced when the ribbons have been wound upon said drum to the limit and it is desired to rewind them upon the opposite drums.

By the use of inking ribbons in place of pads or rollers and arranging them in the manner above described very clear and legible impressions are. insured and uniformity in the character of the impressions.

The ticket strip and staple wirethe latter being designated by the letter e-are fed through the same instrumentalities as follows:. Upon a shaft 85, journaled in bearings on the side-plates of the casing 3, there are secured a roller 86 within said casing and having a roughened periphery and a roller 87 outside of said casing and having a grooved periphery. The side plates of the casing 3 have upwardly projecting portions 88 at "the rear and in openings therein are mounted circular disks 89 and in these disks there is ecoentrically journaled a shaft 90 carrying a roller 92 in juXtarelation to the grooved roller 87 and a roller 91 in juxtarelation to the roller 86. The roller 91 is preferably faced with rubber and is designed to cooperate with the roller 86 in feeding the ticket strip d. The roller 92 cooperates with the roller 87 to feed the staple wire, the groove ciently roughened to insure a grip upon the wire. The roller 91 may be fixed to the shaft 90 and the roller 92 loosely mounted thereon but the particular manner of mounting these rollers is of course a matter of choice and can be varied so long as their cooperation is insured to properly feed the ticket strip and wire. The disks 89 carrying the shaft 90 eccentrioally, afford means for moving the rollers 91 and 92 into and out of cooperative relation with the rollers 86 and 87 in a well-known manner. These disks have compounded with them arms 93 which are united by a handle 9l which is connected by a retractile spring 95 with the cap piece 5 so as to normally hold the pairs of rollers in contact. The contact is of course a yielding one so as to accommodate the ticket strip and the staple wire and in order to feed the strip and wire it will be seen that it is only necessary to rotate one of the rollers step by step with each operation of the machine.

It is desirable to effect the advance of the ticket strip and the staple wire upon the return of the treadle and to this end the following connection is used between the sprocket wheel 8 and the roller 86 to turn the latter upon the reverse or backward rotation of said sprocket wheel. A link 96 is coupled to a crank-arm 8 compounded with said sprocket wheel and extends to an arm in the roller 87 being sutfi- I rotation of the sprocket wheel 8 the pawl 98 is carried back over a tooth of the ratchet wheel 99 so that the feed rollers remain stationary during this part of the operation of the machine. However, when the treadle is released and the spring 11 turns the sprocket wheel 8 backward the pawl 98 will act against tooth of the ratchet wheel 99 and turn the feed rollers so as to advance the ticket strip and the wire. The ticket strip is preferably carried in a roll at one side of the machine within. a casing 100 (see Fig. 1) and thence runs to the bight of the rollers 86 and 91 after passing through a slot in the rear.v of the casing 3. As heretofore explained this ticket strip where it extends beyond the feed rollers lies in a channel of the work plate 4. The feed motion of the rollers is sufficient to advance the strip the length of a tag or ticket, projecting this much of the strip over the front part of the work plate so that the knife 26 rising through the opening 27 in said work plate will sever this advanced portion of the strip by cooperationwith the stationary knife 28 and the staple driver 39 rising to an opening 101 in said work plate 1 will drive the staple through the severed tag or ticket which is held down by the anvil 54. The staple wire is carried in a roll within a casing 102 above the casing 100 and passes therefrom to the bight of the rollers 87 and 92 and having passed between said rollers enters a tube 103 supported on a shelf 10 1 projecting from one of the side plates of the casing 3. This tube after describing a compound curve enters the steel bushing 31 so as to deliver the wire into the bore of said bushing as shown in Fig. 6. The motion imparted to the feed rollers as heretofore explained is suflicient to advance a length of wire properly proportioned for the making of a single staple. As herctofore explained this length of wire is projected from the bushing 31 across the staple former in the groove thereof and in the rise of said staple former the wire cutter cooperating with the beveled face of the hardened bushing 31 will sever the wire pointing its end.

The operation of the machine will have become more or less apparent in the course of the preceding description so that it is unnecessary to" repeat the same in detail. The normal condition of the machine is represented in the various figures of the drawings, except Figs. 9 to 13; the clencher block or anvil. is represented as leaving ample space for the insertion of goods to be tagged which will be placed above the work table 4 and over the advanced portion of the ticket strip and the advanced length of wire which lies beneath the work plate. Pres sure on the treadle 10 will result in the staple being formed and clenched in the manner hereinbefore described and the peculi arities of the driving connections are such as to cause the instant restoration of the strip and wire cutting and staple forming and clenching movable parts to normal, independently of the treadle and its immediate connections. This restoration takes place with the treadle still depressed or in other words just as the treadle reaches the limit of its downward movement the above mentioned parts are restored to their normal position automatically so that there ,can be no obstruction to the advance of the ticket strip and wire which is to take place upon the rise of the treadle. Therefore no matter how quickly the treadle may be operated the way is bound to be clear for the advance of the strip and wire.

It will now be seen that the construction above described is well calculated to thoroughly fulfil the various objects primarily stated. However, it is to be understood that this construction may be considerably modified without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Different colored inking ribbons may be employed or a single polychrome ribbon and the feed mechanism therefor may be made automatically reversible.

What is claimed is:

1. In a machine of the character described the combination of complemental members movable toward and from each other and having confronting stapling portions and transposedly confronting actuator-portions, and an. actuator in the nature of a spreader interposed between said latter portions; substantially as described.

2. In a machine of the character described the combination of complemental members movable toward and from each other and having confronting stapling portions and transposedly confronting actuatorportions, means yieldingly advancing said latter portions toward each other, and an actuator in I the nature of a spreader interposed between said actuator portions and movable to sepa rate the same and then by continued move ment permit them to approach; substantially as described.

3. In a machine of the character described the combination of complemental members movable toward and from each other and having confronting stapling portions and transposedly confronting actuator-portions, means yieldingly advancing said latter portions toward each other, an actuator in the nature of a spreader interposed between said actuator portions and means for operating said spreader with provision for permitting continued movement thereof independent of the Operating means; substantially as and for the purpose described.

' the combination of complemental members slidable toward and from each other and having confronting stapling portions and transposedly confronting actuator-portions, means yieldingly advancing said latter portions toward each other and an actuator in the nature of a spreader interposed between said actuator-portions and movable to separate the same and then by continued movement permit them to approach; substantially as described.

6. In a machine of the character described the combination of complemental members slidable toward and from each other and having confronting stapling portions and transposedly confronting actuator-portions, means yieldingly advancing said latter portions toward each other, an actuator in the nature of a spreader interposed between said actuator-portions and means for operating said spreader with provision for permitting continued movement thereof independent of the operating means; substantially as and for the purpose described.

7. In a machine of the character described the combination of complemental members movable toward and from each other and having confronting stapling portions and transposedly confronting actuator-portions, and an actuator in the nature of a pivotal spreader interposed between said latter portions; substantially as described.

8. In a machine of the character described the combination of complemental members movable toward and from each other and having confronting stapling portions and transposedly confronting actuator-portions, means yieldingly advancing said latter portions toward each other, and an actuator in tlfe nature of a pivotal spreader interposed between said actuator-portions and movable to separate the same and then by continued movement permit them to approach; substantially as described.

9. In a machine of the character described the combination of complemental members movable toward and from each other and 'having confronting stapling portions and transposedly confronting actuatorportions, means yieldingly advancing said latter portions toward each other, an actuator in the nature of a pivotal spreader interposed between said actuator-portions and means for operatin said spreader with provision for permitting continued movement thereof independent of the operating means; substantially as and for the purpose described.

10. In a machine of the character described the combination of complemental members movable toward and from each other and having confronting stapling portions and transposedly confronting actuator-portions, means yieldingly advancing said latter portions toward each other, an actuator in the nature of a spreader interposed between said actuator portions and means for operating said spreader through a one-way connection therewith.

11. In a machine of the character described the combination of complemental members slidable toward and from each other and having confronting stapling portions and transposedly confronting actuator-portions, means yieldingly advancing said latter portions toward each other, an actuator in the nature of a pivotal spreader interposed between said actuator-portions and means for operating said spreader through a one-way connection therewith.

12. In a machine of the character described the combination of complemental members movable toward and from each other and having confronting stapling portions and transposedly confronting actuator-portions, means yieldingly advancing said latter portions toward each other, an actuator in the nature of a spreader interposed between said actuator portions and a reciprocating driver for the spreader hav ing a one-way connection therewith.

13. In a machine of the character described the combination of complemental members slidable toward and from each other and having confronting stapling portions and transposedly confronting actuator-portions, means yieldingly advancing said latter portions toward each other, an actuator in the nature of a pivotal spreader interposed between said actuator portions and movable to separate the same and then by continued movement permit them to approach, and a reciprocating driver for the spreader having a one-way connection therewith.

14:. In a machine of the character described the combination of complemental members movable toward and from each other and having confronting stapling portions and transposedly confronting actuator-portions, means yieldingly advancing said latter portions toward each other, an actuator in the nature of a pivotal spreader interposed between said actuator portions, and an oscillating driver for the spreader having a one-way connection therewith.

15. In a machine of the character described the combination of complemental members movable toward and from each other and having confronting stapling portions and transposedly confronting actuator-portions, means yieldingly advancing said latter portions toward each other, and an actuator in the nature of a pivotal spreader interposed between said actuator portions and engaging thesame on opposite sides of its pivot, said spreader by a quarter turn bringing the stapling portions together and then by continued movement yielding to the said means for advancing the actuator portions and thus making another quarter turn; substantially as clescribed.

16. In a machine of the character described the combination of complemental members movable toward and from each other and having confronting stapling portions and transposedly confronting actuatorportions, means yieldingly advancing said latter portions toward each other, an actuator in the nature of a pivotal spreader interposed between said actuator portions and engaging the same on opposite sides of its pivot, said spreader by a quarter turn bringing the stapling portions together and then by continued movement yielding to the said means for advancing the actuator portions and thus making another quarter turn, and a driver for the spreader having a one-way connection therewith.

17. In a machine of the character described the combination of complemental members movable toward and from each other and having confronting stapling portions and transposedly confronting actuator-portions, means yieldingly advancing said latter portions toward each other, an actuator in the nature of a spreader interposed between said actuator portions and movable to separate the same and then by continued movement permit them to approach, a driver for the spreader having a one-way connection therewith, and a wire feeding mechanism operated by said driver.

18. In a machine of the character described the combination of complemental members movable toward and from each other and having confronting stapling portions and transposedly confronting actuator-portions means yieldingly advancing said latter portions toward each other, an actuator in the nature of a spreader interposed between said actuator portions and movable to separate the same and then by continued movement permit them to approach, a reciprocating driver for the spreader having a one-way connection therewith, and a wire feeding mechanism operated by said driver on the return or back stroke of the latter.

19. In a machine of the character de scribed the combination of complemental members movable toward and from each other and having confronting stapling por tions and transposedly confronting actuator-portions, means yieldingly advancing said latter portions toward each other, an actuator in the nature of a pivotal spreader interposed between said actuator portions and movable to separate the same and then by continued movement permit them to approach, an oscillating driver for the spreader having a one-way connection therewith, and an intermittent wire feeding mechanism operated by said driver.

20. In a machine of the character described the combination of complemental members movable toward and from each other and having confronting stapling portions and transposedly confronting actuator-portions, means yieldingly advancing said latter portions toward each other, an actuator in the nature of a pivotal spreader interposed between said actuator portions and engaging the same on opposite sides of its pivot, said spreader by a quarter turn bringing the stapling portions together and then by continued movement yielding to the said means for advancing the actuator portions and thus making another quarter turn, a driver for the spreader having a oneway connection therewith, and a wire feeding mechanism operated by the driver.

21. In a machine of the character described the combination of complemental members movable toward and from each other and having confronting stapling portions and transposedly confronting actuator-portions, and an actuator in the nature of aspreader interposed between said latter portions and comprising a pivotal support and rollers mounted thereon at diametrically opposite points.

22. In a machine of the character described the combination of complemental members movable toward and from each other and having confronting stapling portions and transposedly confronting actuator-portions, means yieldingly advancing said latter portions toward each other, and an actuator in the nature of a spreader interposed between said actuator portions and movable to separate the same and then by continued movement permit to approach, said actuator comprising a pivotal support and rollers mounted thereon at diametrically opposite points.

23. In a machine of the character clescribed the combination of complemental I members slidable toward and from each other and having confronting stapling portions and transposedly confronting actuatorportions, means yieldingly advancing said latter portions toward each other, and an actuator in the nature of a spreader interposed between said actuator portions and movable to separate the same and then by other and having confronting stapling portions and transposedly confronting actuatorportions, means yieldingly advancing said latter portions toward each other, and an actuator in the nature of a spreader interposed between said actuator portions and comprising a pivotal support and rollers mounted thereon at diametrically opposite points, said spreader by a quarter turn bringing the stapling portions together and then by continued movement yielding to the said means for advancing the actuator portions and thus making another quarter turn, substantially as described.

25. In a machine of the character described, the combination of complemental members movable toward and from each other and having confronting stapling portions and transposedly confronting actuator-portions, means yieldingly advancing said latter portions toward each other, an actuator in the nature of a spreader interposed between said actuator portions and movable to separate the same, and means for operating said spreader with provisions for permitting continued movement thereof independent of the operating means and for preventing backward movement of the spreader.

26. In a machine of the character described the combination of complemental members movable toward and from each other and having confronting stapling portions and transposedly confronting actuator-portions, means yieldingly advancing said latter portions toward each other, and an actuator in the nature of a pivotal spreader interposed between said actuator portions and engaging the same on opposite sides of its pivot, said spreader by a quarter turn bringing the stapling portions together and then by continued movement yielding to the said means for advancing the actuator portions and thus making another quarter turn, together with means for preventing backward turning of the spreader.

27. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a movable support or carriage, a staple former and a staple driver, both mounted thereon and wholly supported thereby but relatively movable, an actuator for the support, and means carried by the latter for producing relative movement between staple former and driver and operated by the said actuator.

28. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a movable support or carriage, a staple former and a staple driver, both mounted thereon and wholly supported thereby but relatively movable, an actuator for the support, and means carried by the latter for producing relative movement between staple former and driver and operated by the said actuator through engagement of a portion thereof moving oppositely to the support.

29. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a rectilinearly movable support, a staple former and a staple driver, both mounted thereon and wholly supported thereby but relatively movable, means for reciprocating said sup port comprising a curvilinearly movable element, and means carried by the support for producing relative movement between staple former and driver, said last named means operated by the said curvilinearly movable element.

30. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a rectilinearly movable support, a staple former and a staple driver both mountedthereon and relatively movable, means for reciprocating said support comprising a curvilinearly movable element, and means carried by the support for producing relative movement between staple former and driver, said last named means comprising a lever projecting into the path of an abutment on the curvilinearly movable element.

81. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a slide having compounded with it a staple former, a staple driver slidably mounted in said slide, a lever pivoted on the latter and coupled to said staple driver, and a driving mechanism including means for reciprocating the slide with provisions for vibrating said lever.

32. In a machine of the character described the combination of a slide having compounded with it a staple former, a staple driver slidably mounted in said slide, a lever pivoted on the latter and coupled to said staple driver, and a driving mechanism for reciprocating said slide including a pivotally mounted element with an abutmentto act upon said lever.

83. In a machine of the character de-' scribed the combination of a slide having I compounded with it a staple former, a staple driver slidably mounted in said slide, a lever pivoted on the latter and coupled to said staple driver, and a driving mechanism for reciprocating said slide including a pivotally mounted element with an abutment to act upon said lever for advancing thei staple driver during the advance of the s 1 e.

34. In a machine of the character described the combination of a slide having compounded with it a staple former, a staple driver slidably mounted in said slide, a lever on the latter coupled to said staple driver, and a driving mechanism for reciprocating said slide including a pivotally mounted ele- 111B11l7,'Wltll an abutment to act upon said lever for advancing the staple driver, during the advance of the slide together with a fixed abutment for returning the lever in the return movement of the slide.

35. In a machine of the character described a reciprocating support, and a clenching block carried thereby with pro visions for adjustment to operative and inoperative positions one substantially at rightangles to the other.

-36. In a machine of the character described, a reciprocating support, and a clenching block rotatively mounted therein and capable of assuming clenching or nonclenching positions one substantially at right Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. I 

